Why Music Studies is a great option for Computer Science and Maths fans

Today's music industry relies on more than just performers and composers to keep the sector moving, such as technicians, programmers, producers and sound engineers. So, if you're mathematically or scientifically inclined, you could find yourself with a skill set highly sought after in the music industry. 

Music is both an art and a science - as well as a hot house for scientific and mathematical principles. If your strengths are in maths, science and computer science, but your study choices aren't adding up, a degree in Music Studies could actually be the solution you've been searching for. 

The Music Studies specialisation at the School of Music covers a broad line-up of sub-disciplines, including music production, music education, musicology and music technology. These cover topics such as:

• pre-production
• recording and audio engineering techniques
• professional mixing and mastering
• music theory, history and industry studies
• live sound and sound design for film

Understanding how technology applies to music is a growing area of research and teaching at the University of Auckland's School of Music. But what exactly is music technology?

Dr Fabio Morreale, lecturer at the School of Music, says:

"Fun fact: despite being the Coordinator of Music Technology at the University of Auckland, even I find this hard to answer. It is composing with computers - but not quite. It is creating electronically-generated sounds - but not quite. It is learning to be a DJ - no, it's definitely not that! 

"It's probably easier to describe what music technology students learn to do. They learn to use mathematics, logic, and cutting-edge AI techniques to compose new music with code and craft new sounds that don't naturally occur. 

"Students also learn to develop their own sounds and textures from scratch rather than using pre-recorded samples or loops; they design hardware and software to create new musical instruments and 'augment' existing ones to control the sounds of instruments; they learn to develop audiovisual installations and mobile apps, and they learn to 'live-code' using their laptop and favourite programming language as their musical instrument to develop their own musical vocabulary." 

Fabio studied a Master of Science in Computer Science at the University of Verona, Italy. He then combined computer science and his guitar-playing interests by completing a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction as applied to Music Technology. Fabio also invented the 'Magpick', a technologically-based guitar pick.

Popular streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music and music software giants like Ableton and Logic Pro all depend on music technology experts to advance their products and provide a great user experience. Fortunately, all of these skills can be acquired through the Music Studies specialisation at the School of Music, on top of traditional music theory and production techniques. This mixed knowledge will allow students to create and ultimately become involved in shaping the future direction of music.  

So if you're keen to jazz up your study options and add your science and maths skills to the mix, and at the prospect of an exciting career in music, choosing to study a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland should be an easy decision to calculate.